CONNECTING THE SPEAKERS TO THE SYSTEM (Figures G,H & I)
Use two conductor 16 gauge or thicker audiophile grade speaker wires. Measure enough wire to reach from your receiver or amp to each speaker plus
an additional 12" to allow moving the speakers or receiver without having to disconnect the wires. One of the terminals on the rear of the speaker is
marked red (+) and the other black (-). Make certain that you connect the wire from the red (+) terminal of your amplifier to the red (+) terminal on
your speaker, and the wire from the black (-) terminal of the amplifier to the black (-) terminal on your speaker. Most wire has some indication (such
as color code, ribbing, or writing) on one of the two conductors to help maintain consistency. If your speakers sound “thin” with little bass and little
to no center image, the chances are that one of the speaker wires is connected backwards. Double check all connections.
This system features a powered subwoofer that has a built-in low pass filter to separate the bass from the full range signal. Some receivers also con-
tain filters that may interfere with sound quality when coupled with the filters in a powered subwoofer. For this reason, it is not advisable to use
the “subwoofer output” on your receiver. For best performance, and to assure that there is no filter redundancy, we recommend the connection
method illustrated in Fig. H.
If your receiver has a “full range” subwoofer output, you may choose to run an RCA cable from this output to the low level line input of your sub-
woofer. Before using this option, make certain that your receiver’s subwoofer output is truly “full range,” otherwise the combination of filters will
cancel each other out, thus interfering with sound quality. Refer to your equipment manual, or consult your dealer before choosing this option.
Speaker level inputs recommended in Fig. H will generally provide better performance.
PREFERRED SUBWOOFER CONNECTION METHOD
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Connect the left and right front speaker outputs of your receiver or amplifier to the SPEAKER LEVEL INPUTS of the powered subwoofer.
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Connect the satellite speakers to the SPEAKER LEVEL OUTPUTS of the subwoofer (Fig. H).
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If it is more convenient, parallel wire the subwoofer and satellites (Fig. I) from your amplifier.
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Connect the center channel speaker directly to the center speaker output of your receiver or amplifier.
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Connect the surround satellites directly to the rear or surround channel outputs of your receiver or amplifier.
ADJUSTING THE POWERED SUBWOOFER
The subwoofer has been optimized to blend perfectly with the satellites of your RM system. A bass volume control allows you to adjust the level
of the subwoofer to suit the acoustics of your room and your personal taste. Adjust by ear using a wide variety of program material. The power
switch is marked “off” and “auto on.” It will sense a signal and turn on when set to “auto on” position which is recommended for normal use.
Turn to “off” if the system will not be used for extended periods of time, such as a vacation.
RECEIVER SET UP
All surround sound receivers allow you to match the electronics to your speakers. Refer to the owners manual of your receiver or surround
processor to learn how this is done. To get the best performance from the RM6500, use the following settings:
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Front Speakers - Set to “Large”
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Center Speaker - Set to “Normal” or “Small”
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Surround Speakers - Set to “Small”
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Subwoofer - Set to “Off” or “None.” This setting may not make sense to you as your RM6500 system has a subwoofer, but trust us, this is the
right setting. Select the “Subwoofer-On” setting only if you are using the alternate subwoofer connection described above.
SAFE LIMITS OF OPERATION
Your Polk loudspeakers are made with the highest quality materials for years of trouble-free performance. However, damage to loudspeakers can
occur when an amplifier, regardless of its wattage, is made to play at higher listening levels than its power can clearly produce (usually beyond
the “1 to 2 O’clock” position on the volume control).
This results in very high levels of audible distortion, originating in the amplifier, which adds a harsh, gritty sound to the music. Contrary to
popular belief, a speaker is more likely to be damaged by trying to get too much volume from a low-powered amp or receiver than from a
high-powered one.
MAINTAINING THE APPEARANCE OF RM SERIES SPEAKERS
Your new speaker cabinet is made of a rugged material that can be dusted or cleaned with a moist cloth. Avoid harsh detergents and cleaning
fluids; they can permanently damage your speakers’ finish. Gently vacuum the grilles to remove dust.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR SERVICE
If, after following the hook-up directions, you experience difficulty, please double check all wire connections. Should you isolate the problem to
the speaker, contact the authorized Polk Audio dealer where you made your purchase or call Polk Audio’s Customer Service Department at 1-
800-377-7655 (calls from US or Canada only) from 9am to 5pm, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. You may also contact us via email
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